Established in 1998 by Western Power Sports, a powersports distributor based in Boise, Idaho, the Fly brand includes Fly Racing (gear for dirt bikes, BMX and mountain bikes, snowmobiles and watercraft) and Fly Street (gear for on-road motorcycles, including helmets, apparel and luggage). With summer upon us, I’ve been beating the heat with Fly Street’s Cool Pro Mesh Jacket and Pants.
Maximum airflow is the best way to stay cool, and the Cool Pro ensemble turns ventilation up to 11 with abrasion-resistant mesh on the chest, back, inner arms and front and back of the legs, as well as a stretchy mesh lining throughout the top and bottom. Both garments have a lightweight, airy feel, yet they provide an essential level of protection. The shoulders and elbows are covered in 1680D ballistic nylon, while other non-mesh areas are covered in 600D polyester. There’s removable, CE-approved armor at the shoulders, elbows and knees, removable foam pads covering the back and hips, and additional foam padding sewn into the knees.
Even in the dead of the summer, temperatures can drop early in the morning, late in the day, at high elevation or when storms pass through. The jacket and pants come with lightweight, breathable HydraGuard liners that block out wind and rain, but they aren’t insulated so carrying a fleece or other thermal liner is a good idea. Since the HydraGuard liners go on the inside, the jacket and pants must be removed to insert them, and none of the jacket/pants pockets are waterproof, so items such as cellphones and cameras will need to be kept in self-sealing bags or saddlebags during downpours. Drawstring pouches are provided for storing the HydraGuard liners, and they fit in the jacket’s handwarmer pockets (though they make the jacket look overstuffed) or easily in a tank bag or saddlebag.
Overall fit is on the generous side; my Large jacket and size 34 pants easily fit over a fleece liner and jeans. Zippered wrist and ankle cuffs with hook-and-loop adjusters, forearm snap adjusters and hook-and-loop waist adjusters make it easy to customize fit, and the jacket even comes with zippered side expansion panels to accommodate that got-my-money’s-worth visit to the buffet. Accordion panels on the pants and a micro fleece collar enhance comfort while reflective panels enhance nighttime visibility. An 8-inch zipper connects the back of the jacket to the pants for added security.
Fly Street’s Cool Pro is good gear at a good price. The jacket retails for $169.95 and is available in men’s sizes S-3XL in Black, Silver/Black, Hi-Vis/Black or White/Black and in women’s sizes XS-3XL in Black, White/Black or Pink/Black. The pants retail for $149.95 and are available in Black only in men’s sizes 30-40 and women’s sizes 3/4 through 17/18.
For more information, see your dealer or visit flyracing.com.
